archivolt

American  

[ahr-kuh-vohlt] / ˈɑr kəˌvoʊlt /

noun

Architecture.

1. a molded or decorated band following the extrados of an arch or forming an archlike frame for an opening.

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archivolt British  

/ ˈɑːkɪˌvəʊlt /

noun

1. a moulding around an arch, sometimes decorated

2. the under surface of an arch

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Etymology

Origin of archivolt

1725–35; < French archivolte < Italian archivolto < Medieval Latin *archivoltum, Latinization of Old French arvol < Late Latin arcus volūtus vaulted arch; see arch ¹, vault ¹

Example Sentences

The semi-circular arch is formed of an grain surrounded by an archivolt made of a chamfered band.

From Romanesque Art in Southern Manche: Album by Lebert, Marie

The arch of the gate is formed of three grains: a grain with a lower centering, and two semi-circular grains surmounted by a archivolt.

From Romanesque Art in Southern Manche: Album by Lebert, Marie

The archivolt topping the semi-circular arch rests on a granite stone carved with a human head.

From Romanesque Art in Southern Manche: Album by Lebert, Marie

If they employed voussoirs, they were not content with ordinary depth, shown by the archivolt mouldings, but made them three or four times as deep.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 "Aram, Eugene" to "Arcueil" by Various

The archivolt is a prominent cordon ornated with saw-teeth in high relief carved with a hollow row of triangular sticks.

From Romanesque Art in Southern Manche: Album by Lebert, Marie